Who is the composer/musical director/writer?
Shanon Whitelock.
What makes cabaret special?
The conversation between the audience and the performer is live, organic, unrehearsed, honest and intimate. There’s a spark in the room that allows the audience to connect with the performers in a really special way.
If you had to condense cabaret into a feeling or emotion, what would it be?
Electric.
When did you first get hooked on cabaret?
I won tickets to Ursula Yovich’s cabaret at the Brisbane Festival in 2010 and it blew my mind. Ursula owned the stage, her amazing storytelling coupled with a live band. I was hooked and now I’m doing it myself and working with some amazing people.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen at a cabaret show?
I once saw a cabaret performer swinging from the rafters, singing upside and all the while taking bits of fruit out of her. Oprah isn’t doing that. I promise.
What’s your favourite thing about the Melbourne Cabaret Festival?
There are so many different things to see and experience in this festival.
Tell us about your show. What’s it about?
‘Oprahfication’ is a term coined by the Wall St Journal meaning a public confession used as a form therapy. Our one hour show is all about what happens to a big star when they leave their audience behind. Oprah left her life on television behind in 2011 to build her O.W.N. network but she misses her people – her audience. So she’s back for a very special episode and to bring you the ultimate interview. With music written by myself and lyrics by Rachel Dunham we’ve created a show that feels like you’ve entered a real live taping of the Oprah Winfrey show and believe me… the Big O is in the room and she can sing!
Describe your show with five words. Oprah, Oprah, Oprah Oprah, Oprah!
How are people going to leave your show feeling?
Elated! They’ll be screaming and stamping their feet, it’s like Oprah goes rock and soul. Oprah never sang of course, so musically I wanted to create a sound that could have been her if she did sing. Her personality has always been vibrant, inspiring and in the right moments, poignant, so I wanted to reflect that in the music… we’ve got lullabies, doo-wop, soul, gospel, funk, Mo-town, dreamgirl’s like diva belts – yeah, this show is a musical roller-coaster!
What dates and times can I see your show?
Saturday June 29 and Sunday June 30, at 7pm .
And at which venue? Chapel Off Chapel.
